Miguel Jimenez

Miguel Jimenez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering. His research focuses on integrating living microorganisms into electronic and mechanical devices to create novel biosensors, bioactuators, and therapeutic platforms. He leads the Microbial Integration Group, exploring applications in healthcare, food security, and space exploration.

Education:

• A.B., Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University
• Ph.D., Chemistry, Columbia University

Research Interests: Jimenez develops microbial devices for diagnostics, therapeutics, and environmental monitoring. His work emphasizes synthetic biology, biomaterials, nanotechnology, and systems engineering. Key areas include in situ directed evolution, countermeasures for space travel, and smart probiotics for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Awards:

• 2022: Broad Institute’s Next Generation in Biomedicine
• 2019: NASA TRISH Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 2017: Academy of Bioastronautics Fellowship
• 2013: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Labs & Affiliations: Jimenez collaborates across Boston University’s Biological Design Center, Nanotechnology Innovation Center (BUnano), and the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry program. His work bridges engineering, biology, and medicine to address global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.